Electric switch



Aug. s, 1933. G. J. MEUER 1,921,766

y ELECTRIC SWITCH vFiled Jan. 2e. 1931 Patented Aug. 8, 1933 UNITEDSTATES ELECTRIC SWITCH George J. Meuer, Milwaukee, Wis., asslgnor toCutler-Hammer, Inc., poration oi' Delaware Application January 26, 1931.

16 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in electric switches, and thesame relates more particularly to electric snap switches of the rotarytype.

An object of the invention is to generally improve and simplify thedetails of construction and assembly of the parts of the switch and themanner of operatingthe same.

another object is to provide stationary and movable switch contacts ofnovel form, the same being directly supported by the insulating base ofthe switch.

Another object is to provide improved means for effecting actuation ofthe movable contact of the switch.

Another object is to provide means for limiting the switch contactor tooscillating movement between given extreme positions together with meansindependent of the contactor for limiting the actuating element tooscillating movement of a similar character. f

Other objects and advantages of the invention will hereinafter appear.

The accompanying drawing illustrates certain embodiments of theinvention, which will now be described', it being understood that theinvention is susceptible vof embodiment in other forms without departingfrom the scope of the appended claims.

in the drawing, Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of a single-pole,or single-circuit-controlling, rotary snap switch constructed inaccordance with 'my invention.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the switch base shown in Fig. l, with thestationary and movable contact elements in position.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view, in separated relation, of the switch partsshown inFig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a top plan view of a modified form of switch base havingstationary contact and terminal elements arranged to provide a switch ofthe three-point, or multiple-circuit-controlling, type.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary 'view similar to Fig; 4, but showing a modifiedform of wiring terminal elements.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the switch contactor and the actuatingcam member therefor,- a portion of the contacter being mown in sectionto illustrate the manner of forming the same.

Figs. '7 and 8 are detail perspective views of the stationary contactand terminal members shown in Fig. 5.

Fig. 9 is a sectional view, on the line 9--9, of the actuating cammember shown in Fig. 3.

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary plan view of the metal cover plate of theswitch prior to attachment of' the metal bushing thereto, and

Milwaukee, Wis., a Cor- Serial No. 511,359

Fig. 11 is a perspective view of the combined double-contact andterminal element shown in Fig. 4.

Referring to the drawing', the numeral 15 designates the moldedinsulating base of theswitch. Base 15 is preferably hot molded from aphenolformaldehyde condensation product, such as that vsold commerciallyunder the trade name of Bakelite. This bas'e is of relatively shallowover-all depth, and the same is provided with a substantiallycylindrical central recess 16, the bottom wall of which has a stud orpin 17 formed integrally therewith, said stud having a at annularshoulder 18 formed thereon and raised slightly above said bottom wall ofthe recess (Figs. 1 and 3).

Opening to the recess 16 at diametrically opposide-sides ofthe latterare the relatively shallower substantially segmental recesses 19 and 20,the end walls 2l and 22 of which act jointly as limiting stops orabutments for the movable contactor 23 of the switch. Contactor 23preferably comprises a stamping of suitable metal, such as brass, havinga substantially circular flat body portion 24 adapted to bear againstthe shoulder 18 aforementioned, said body portion being provided with anopening as shown to accommodate the stud 17 whereby the latter acts as apivotal support for the former. Contacter 23 is provided withv upwardlyoffset diametrically opposed arms the end portions 25 and 26 of whichare bent as shown to provide convex lower contact surfaces. The upwardlyconverging pairs of inclined cam surfaces 27 and 23 on contacter 23 areadapted to merge at the lower ends thereof with the at portion 24 of thecontacter.

Extending inwardly from diagonally opposite corners of the base 15 are apair of relatively narrow tortuous recesses 29 and 30, the inner ends ofwhich respectively coincide with the segmental recesses 20 and 19. Therecesses 29 and 30 are provided with intermediate branches or extensions29a and 30 to facilitate internal wiring of the switch when combinedcontact and terminal members of the type shown in Fig. 8 are employed,as described hereinafter with reference to Fig. 5. Recesses 29 and 30open through the end Walls of base 1.5 as shown at 29b and 30b toaccommo- 'date the insulated wires when internal wiring is provided for,and relatively deeper and relatively narrower slots 29 and 3()c areprovided to accommodate the outwardly extending terminal portions of theone-piece combined contact and terminal members 31 and 32 bestillustrated in Figs. 2 and 3.

Members 3l and 32 preferably consist of sheet metal punchings bent asillustrated to snugly fit within the recesses 29- and 30,-the inner edgeportions of said members being inclined to the horizontal to providecontact surfaces 3D'a and 32* for cooperative engagement by the endportions 26 vand 25, respectively, of the contactor 23. Adjacent tosurfaces 31B, 32a are the vertical abutment edges 31h, 32b,-the upperhorizontal edges 31, 32 of said members being located in substantiallyflush relation to the upper surface of base 15 when the parts are inassembled relation. The

'outer ends of members 31 and 32 may be provided with openings 31d, 32dby means of which the.

' 33, 34 without unduly reducing the strength of 20 the molded piece,while at the same time minimizing the amount of insulating materialrequired, and \the weight of the piece, with consequent reduction incost of manufacture and shipment of the articles.

Adapted to cooperatively engage contacts 23 is an actuating cam member35 of substantially channel-shape, the bottom portion of which isprovided at opposite ends thereof with downwardly converging inclinedcam surfaces 35a, 35b,-said bottom portion being upwardly oiset, asindicated at 35' and provided with anopening 35d to accommodate theinsulating pivot pin or spindle 17 aforementioned. Member 35 ispreferably formed of steel.

Adapted to seat within the cam member 35 for driving of the latter is aflat punched plate 36 of insulating material, such as fiber. Plate 36 ispreferably of inverted Y-shape, as shown,the

v notch 36a therein being adapted to accommodate 37 are two or more lugs37, 37i which are adapted or straddle the pin 17. 'Ihe portion 36b ofplate 36 is preferably of a width substantially equal to the diameter ofla cylindrical metal shaft 37,

said shaft being diametrically slotted, as indi` cated at 37a toaccommodate said portion 36h of plate `36; Shaft 37 is provided with abore or cavity37b to receive the reduced upper end 36 of plate 36, saidend being further reduced, as shown at 36d to t within the lower end ofa spiral compression spring 38 located within said cavity.

Struck outwardly from the lower end of shaft to limit the upwarddisplacement of shaft 37 with respect to the externally threaded hollowmetal bushing 39 within which said shaft is adapted to bear. Bushing 39is rigidly attached to a metal cover plate 40, as by spinning an endflange 39a (Fig. 1) of the former over the lower face of the latter.Asvshown in Fig. 10, the edge of the opening 40a in cover plate 40 ispreferably notched or serrated, as indicated at 40b to insure againstturning of these parts relatively to eachother after the spinningoperation. Cover plate l40 is preferably provided with integral lugs 40and 40d which are bent over shoulders formed by recesses 41 and 42provided at opposite ends of base 15,-said lugs being reduced in widthas indicated at 40 and 401 to facilitate such bending, while providingfor a fairly snug fit of said lugs within said recesses.

Interposed between the metal cover plate 40 and thevtop surface of base15 is a thin punched plate 43 of insulating 'material, which acts asadditional means to retain the contact and terminal members 31 and 32 inposition while insuring y against contact of the latter with said coverplate acarreo 40. -Insulating plate 40 is provided with a pair ofsegmental openings 43, 43h which communicate with each other, thediagonally related pairs of end walls of said openings being located inparallel planes spaced sufliciently from each other to accommodate thethickness of the plate 3 6. Said end walls thus cooperate in diagonallyrelated pairs to engage the portion 36h of plate, 36 and thus limit thellatter to oscillatory movement within a given range.

Assuming that the contactor 23 is limited to oscillatory movement withina range of approxi-- mately sixty degrees, the plate 36 would preferablybe limited by the end walls of the segmental openings 438, 43bv tomovement Withina range of approximately ninety degrees, so that movementof the cam member 35 over the high points of the cam surfaces on thecontactor will be insured upon movement of plate 36 to each of itsextreme positions alternately. Inasmuch as the coiled spring 38 acts toconstantly press the cam member 35 into engagement with contactor 23,snap movement of the latter from each extreme position to the other isinsured.

The switch as shown is adapted for one-hole mounting upon a suitablepanel or other support, the usual nuts 44 and 45 being preferablyemployed for adjustment with respect to panels or supports of dierentthicknesses. After the switch is attached to the support an insulatingknob or handle 46 may be secured thereto, as by means of the set screw47. As will be understood, the exposed portion of shaft 37 may itself bemilled, grooved or otherwise roughened to serve as a handle, inasmuch assaid shaft is properly insulated from the stationary and movablecontacts of the switch. Also obviously the shaft 37 might be molded orotherwise formed from insulating material,-a suitable shoulder orabutments being formed thereon to perform the function of lugs 37, 371.

The insulating base 48 shown in Figs. 4 and 5 is in general like thebase 15 aforedescribed. However, base 48 is provided at the-four cornersthereof with the relatively narrow tortuous recesses 49, 50, 51 and52,-the recesses 50 and 51 being lconnected, as shown at 53 toaccommodate the portion 54 of a 'combined double-contact and terminalmember 54 (Figs. 4 and 11), the inclined edge contact surfaces 54b and54 being arranged at an angle to eachother to lie in the path of theoscillating contactor of the switch. The right-hand contact and terminalmember 55 may be identical with the member 31 shown in Figs. 2 and 3,andthe member 56 may be formed from the same blank for assembly at theleft-hand side of the switch base.

The recess 16 and stud 17 in Figs. 4 and 5 are like the correspondingparts in the other figures of the drawing. With the stationary contactsarranged as shown in Figs. 4 and 5, the device is adapted to function asa three-point, or`

multiple-circuit-controlling, switch. In the arrangement shown in Fig. 5the switch may be wired internally of base 48 after the sta tionarycontact and terminal members are in position. yThus two of the combinedcontact and I terminal members 57 will be inserted in the re- -of Ythebase. These contact'and terminal members 57 and 58 are shown in detailin Figs. l7 and 8,-the same being respectively provided with 'angularlyextending notches 57 and 58* in the upper edges or the terminal portionsthereof. Thus with the members in position the bared ends o! insulatedwires, such as 59 and 60 are inserted into the branches or extensions49e, 50"L of the 'recesses 49, 50, and said bared end portions are thenbent into the respective notches 57a, 58a and snubbed against the wallsthereof. A small amount of solder may then be placed upon the adjacentportions of the wires and said members to insure proper electricalconnection therebetween.

As will be apparent, the base 48 may be employed in constructing asingle pole switch of the character illustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and 3; andthe contact and wiring terminal members Sor internal or external wiringmay be employed selectively as desired.

As best illustrated in Fig. 6, upon a predetermined degree of clockwisemovement of the spring pressed cam member the latter rides over the highpoints or ridges of the cam surfaces 2'?, 28 on contactor 23whereuponsnap movement of the latter in a counter-clockwise direction to oneextreme position is eiiected. Thereafter a corresponding degree vofcounterclockwise movement of cam member 35 eects snap movement ofcontacter 23 in a clockwise direction to its opposite extreme position.

Suitable means mai,1 be associated with the shaft 37 and the supportingpanel for the singlepole switch illustrated inFigs. l, 2 and 3 toindicate the on and the oft positions thereof.

What li claim as new and desire to cure by Letters Patent is:v

l.. In an electric switch, in combination, a molded insulating basehaving a centrally located cylindrical recess and segmental recesses ondiametrically opposite sides .of said central recess and openingthereto,said segmental recesses having vertical notches formed therein,a plurality of punched sheet metalontact members seated edgewise withinthe respective notchea'a stamped sheet metal contactar the bod?,vportion of which is located within said central recess and the arnoportions of which are oscillatable within said segmental recesses :formovement of said arm portions into and lout or engagement with saidcontact members, and means including a spring pressed cam for effectingmovements oi said contacter with a snap action;

2. In an electric switch, in combination, a molded insulating basehaving a substantially cylindrical recess, a stamped sheet metalcontactor having its bodyportion rotatable seated within said recess andhaving arm portions er;- tending radially beyond said recess, aplm-alits7 of punched sheet metal contact members seated edgewise withincorrespondingly shaped recesses in said base and having portions thereoflocated in the path oi movement oi said arms, means including saidcontact members for limiting said contacter to oscillator;7 movementwithin a given range, said contactor having ,double-inclined cernsurfaces formed thereon, a cam member springpressed into cooperativeengagement with said contactor, and means comprising a cover forlimitingsaid cam member to oscillatory movement within a given range.

3. In a rotary electric snap switch, in combination, a molded insulatingbase, and a flat punched insulating cover plate therefor, said coverplate having a pair of diametrically opposed segmental openingscommunicating with each other, for the purpose set forth.

4. ln an electric snap switch, in combination,

a shallow molded insulating basa-punched sheet metal contact and wiringterminal members seated edgewise within correspondingly shaped recessesin said base and having portions thereof extending ilush with the uppersurface of said base, a flat punched insulating cover plate adapted toretain said contact and terminal .members inl assembled relation to saidbase, a pin formed integrally with said base, a stamped sheet metalcontacter pivotally supported by said pin, said contactor having aplurality of pairs of upwardly converging inclined cam surfaces formedthereon, an actuating element having downwardly converging inclined camsurfaces formed thereon for cooperation with the cam surfacesaforementioned, a hollow shaft telescopically engaging said actuatingelement and interloclred with the latter against rotation relativelythereto, and means on said insulating cover plate for limiting saidactuating element to oscillatory movement within a predetermined range.

5. ln an electric snap switch, in combination, a shallow moldedinsulating base, punched sheet metal contact and wiring terminalymembers seated edgewise within correspondingly shaped recesses in saidbase and having portions thereof extending flush with the upper surfaceof said base, a iiat punched insulating cover plate adapted to retainsaid contact and terminal members in assembled relation to said base, apin formed integrally with said base, a stamped sheet metal contacterpivotally supported bv said pin, said contactor having a plurality ofpairs of upwardly converging inclined cam surfaces formed thereon, anactuating element having downwardly converging inclined cam suriacesformed thereon for cooperation with the cam surfaces aforementioned, ahollow shaft telescopically omgeging said actuating element andinterloclred with the latter against rotation relatively thereto, litimeans on said insulating cover plate for limiting said actuating elementto oscillatory movement within a predetermined range, a sheet metalcover plate secured to said insulating base to maintain all of theaforementioned parts in assembled relation thereto, and means on saidshaft to facilitate manual operation ci the latter.

6. A movable contactos for electric snap switches, comprising a stampedsheet metal member having a flat intermediate portion provided with anopening, diametrieaily opposed. arms offset upwardly from saidintermediate portion, the outer ends of said arms being hent to providelower surfaces of convex torni, and the adjacent inner portions of saidarras each'having upwardly converged inclined cam surfaces formedthereon.

in an electric snap switch, in combination, a stamped sheet metalcontacter having a fiat intermediate portion provided with a bearingopening, diametricallv opposed arms offset upwardly irom saidintermediate portion, the outer 'ends ci said arms being bent to pro'idelovfer surfaces of convex form, the adjacent inner portions oi' saidarms each having upwardly converged inclined cam surfaces formedthereon, a channel-shaped sheet metal member having op,- posite endportions thereof provided with downvvardlv converged inclined carosurfaces for cooperation with the cam surfaces on said contacm tor, a:flat punched insulating member having driving engagement with saidchannel shaped member, and an operating member having driving engagementwith said insulating member.

8. ln an electric snap switch, in combination, 159

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punched insulating member having driving engagement with said channelshaped member, an operating shaft having telescopic driving engagementwith said insulating member, and a coiled compression spring interposedbetween said shaft and said insulating member.

9. In an electric snap switch, in combination, a stamped sheet metalcontactor having a hat intermediate portion provided with a bearingopening, diametrically opposed armsl offset upwardly from saidintermediate portion, the outer ends of said arms beingbent to providelower surfaces of convex form, the adjacent inner por' tions of saidarms each having upwardly converged inclined cam surfaces formedthereon, a channel-shaped sheet metal member having opposite endportions thereof provided with downwardly converged :inclined camsurfaces for cooperation with the cam surfaces on said contactor, c. atpunched insulating member having driving engagement with said channelshaped member, an operating shaft having telescopic driving engagementwith said insulating member, a coiled compression spring interposedbetween said shaft and said insulating member, an insulating base havingabutments formed integrally therewith to limit said contactor tooscillatory movement within a predetermined range,

and addinoni means associated with said base to limit said insulatingmember to oscillatory movement within a similar but slightly greaterrange.

l0. A combined stationary contact and terminal member for electric snapswitches, comprising a sheet metal member adapted for wedge mountingwithin a suitably recessed base, said member having an inclined edgeportion providing a contact surface and an integral vertical abutmentshoulder adjacent thereto, and means on said member to provide forattachment of a,

terminal wire thereto.

ll. A one-piece combined contact and terminal element for electric snapswitches, comprising a punched sheet metal member adapted for wedgemounting within a suitably recessed insulating base, said member havingan inclined edge portion providing a contact surface and a vertical edgeportion abutting said contact-sur- `face, and said member having a notchformed in another edge portion thereofto provide for snubbing attachmentof a. terminal wire thereto.

l2. In combination, a molded insulating base having a relatively narrowrecess formed therein, a substantially non-resilient sheet metal contactmember having a portion o1' single thick-l ness adapted to seat edgewisewithin vsaid recess and between the parallel walls of the latter,.saidportion o! said member having a laterally extending c'one-shaped bosslformed thereon to bite intol one of the at side walls of said recess tothereby provide for a drive t of said member within said recess, andsaid member having an angled contact edge portion extending beyond saidrecess, said contact edge portion being adapted for engagement by amovable contactor of 'suitable form. l

13. In an electric switch, in combination, a molded insulating basehaving a relatively narrow vertically extending recess formed therein, apunched sheet metal member having a drive t edgewise within said recess,said member having'an inclined edge portion at one end adapted toprovide a contact surface, said member having a notch adjacent to theother end thereof, andsaid base having a relatively small recessadjacent to said notch whereby a wire terminal may be inserted in saidlast mentioned recess and snubbed against the walls of said notch topermit wiring of said member after attachment thereof to the base.

ld. A one-piece combined multiple contact and wiring terminal member forelectric snap switches, comprising a metal punching having anintermediate relatively narrow portion and upwardly inclined edgecontact portions adjacent thereto and vertical abutment edge portionsadjacent to said contact portions, said contact portions beingrespectively located in vertical planes converging'towardsaidintermediate portion, and means integral with said punching'to providefor attachment of a terminal wire thereto.

15. In an electric switch, vin combination, a molded insulating basehaving a substantially cylindrical recess, a stamped sheet metalcontacttor having its body portion rotatably seated within said recessand having arm portions extending radially beyond said recess, aplurality of punched sheet metal contact members seated edgewise withincorrespondingly shaped recesses in said base and having edge portionsthereof located in the path of movement of said arms, means includingsaid contact members for limiting said contactor to oscillatory movementwithin agiven range, said contactor having doubleinclined cam surfacesformed thereon, a cam member spring-biased into cooperative engagementwith said contactar, and means for limiting said cam member tooscillatory movement l within a given range.

16. In an electric snap switch, in combination, a shallow moldedinsulating base, punched sheet metal contact and wiring terminal'membersseated edgewise within correspondingly shaped recesses in said base andhaving portions thereof extending ush with the upper surface of saidbase, a at punched insulating cover plate adapted to retain said contactand terminal members in assembled relation to said base, a pin extendingupwardly at right angles to said base,

Aa stamped sheet metal contactor pivotally sup-

